Only 34 hardy souls watched Arnold kick off and after only 7minutes concede an all too familiar soft goal. Ashby’s, Blair on the left crossed to Horn, who unchallenged, 8yds out fired into the Arnold net
(0-1).
Arnold’s jittery defence survived a succession of corners and Ashby started to take charge of the game with Arnold failing to compete in the midfield and showing little goal threat. On 17 mins Ashby created a great chance but Looker’s cross into the 6 yd box was not followed in. An Arnold through ball to the edge of the Ashby box saw the Ashby keeper slip in making a hurried clearance. The ball fell to Karim who calmly finished into an empty net (1-1).
Arnold level on 24 mins and as if a switched had been flicked the team started to play with more drive and confidence. Only a minute after the goal Millward, given space, volleyed over from just outside the box. Arnold were awarded a free kick on 32 minutes. From 20 yds out and in the centre of the goal Millwards kick was deflected off the right hand side of the Ashby wall and past the diving keeper (2-1).
Minutes later Arnold went close again when Looker’s turn and volley forced a great one handed diving stop from Richards. Ashby had their chances and should have equalized but Woodbine shot wide across the goal. With a minute to go to half time, Arnold’s Karim drove into the box from the left and was brought down. Not the heaviest challenge of all time but a penalty none the less. Millward stepped up and drove the ball straight down the middle and in (3-1).
Arnold weathered a further Ashby free kick and went into the break deservedly in the lead.

As the teams and the rain came out for the second half the Arnold diehards crossed their collective fingers. Ashby set the pace, Rigley had to make a couple of routine saves and Ashby had a goal ruled out for offside. On 60 mins an Ashby corner was gloriously volleyed in by Holmes giving Rigley no chance (3-2).
Almost immediately Rigley was in action again blocking a fierce shot from Horn, game on, as the saying goes. Woodbine drove a shot just wide for Ashby. Arnold’s, Drackett raced past his opposite number on the right and put in low cross which begged to be converted but no one could connect with the ball. Ashby pressed hard but struggled to create clear openings and Arnold didn’t just fall back and try to defence they kept working hard in midfield to thwart the threat. Minutes before the end of normal time Ashby had a final chance, a cross by Woodbine found Horn but his header was well taken by Rigley. After a couple of lengthy injury interruptions during the half the game slid into added on time. Millward with the crowd imploring him to take the ball to Ashby corner flag on the left hand side, cut inside, crossed into the box for Drackett, who’s looping header found the net.
(4-2).
The ecstatic scenes which followed the goal and full time whistle shows the spirit and fight has not gone from the Arnold team despite all that has gone before. Ashby can have no complaints, on the day they were beaten by a better and more committed team.
Match reports shouldn’t be biased but this and all the other Arnold supporters deserved this one …. C’mon Arna.

Arnold Town
1. Danny Rigley
2. Kris Drackett
3. Kurt Hallam (C)
4. Kelvin Mushambi
5. Soloman Abu
6. Jordan Leeming
7. Takunda Mushambi
8. Gaafar Karim
9. Curtis Millward
10. Mitch Looker
11. Dillian Bird

12. Will Bouwen
14. Marshall Karle
15. Tom Maxwell
16. Pat Samba
17. Michael Ball

Ashby Ivanhoe
1. Liam Richards
2. Alex Ford
3. Harry Stewart
4. George Wolm
5. Maccauly Holmes (C)
6. Jake Conkay
7. Mitch Woodbine
8. Sam Carline
9. Kerr Horn
10. Joel Earps
11. Angus Blair

12. Ryan Pearce
14. Jordan McCovey
15. Sam Beck
16. Kieran O’ Sullivan

Match Officials:
Simon Swain
Gary Lacey
Alex Orchiston

Att: 34

Report by Geoff Smith